[Late hematogenous infection of prosthetic joint]. / Pozdní hematogenní infekce kloubních náhrad.

The importance of prevention in late hematogenous infection is well understood but, because responsibility lies with general practitioners and other specialists, the orthopedic surgeon is usually not much interested. In both our and other countries, discussions are taking place on whether and to what extent antibiotic prevention should be carried out. Antibiotic prophylaxis of hematogenous infection is not indicated for all patients with joint arthroplasty, but only for a limited, defined group of patients at high risk. In these, however, the present state of knowledge suggests that prevention is necessary. A preventive treatment of late hematogenous infection is used for a procedure or a disease associated with risks in all the patients involved within two years of prosthetic joint implantation and, after this period, only in immunosuppressed patients. Surgery on the urogenital tract associated with the risk of bacteremia includes prostate gland surgery, operations for urinary bladder tumors, nephrolithotomy, extracorporeal lithotripsy and prostate biopsy. Certain conditions, such as urinary catheter presence, intermittent catheterization, urethral stent presence, urine retention and a history of urinary tract infection or prostate inflammation, pose an increased risk of bacterial colonization for the urogenital system. Dental procedures associated with a risk of bacteremia include tooth extraction, surgery on the parodontium, surgical extraction of an impacted tooth, dental implant treatment, procedures in a tooth's apical region, initial application of an orthodontic apparatus, intraligamentous blocks and also cleaning teeth and implants expected to bleed. Gynecological surgery with a risk of bacteremia are abdominal, vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies, surgery for cancer contaminated with vaginal bacteria, reconstruction surgery, operations on the pelvic floor for defects associated with urinary incontinence and use of xenotransplants. In obstetrics, a cesarean section carries some risks. In general surgery, the preventive administration of antibiotics is indicated, apart from situations always requiring antibiotic therapy, also for advanced forms of acute appendicitis, perirectal abscess, invasive endoscopy procedures on the colon, soft tissue phlegmona or abscess, surgical treatment of venous ulceration and pressure sores, and limb amputation. When inserting any piercing in patients with joint replacement at risk, it is recommended to do it with antibiotic administration; also, it is necessary to responsibly treat any inflammatory complication. The system of prevention for the late hematogenous infections of prosthetic joints is not developed as thoroughly as, for instance, it is in cardiology for patients with valve reconstruction. Because of the reasons given above, it is advisable to set up unambiguous guidelines for the prevention of late hematogenous infection in patients with joint replacement.

[Late hematogenous infection of prosthetic joints in our patients and proposal for a system of prevention]. / Výskyt pozdní hematogenní infekce kloubních náhrad v nasem souboru a návrh systému prevence.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To design a prophylactic strategy for late hematogenous infection is not an easy task. It requires the assessment of risk factors for the patient as well as of a potential source of bacteremia. Cost effectiveness, efficacy of the antibiotic selected and complications associated with antibiotic treatment, such as allergic reactions and development of resistance to the antibiotic given, should also be considered. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the occurrence of late hematogenous infection in our large group of patients, to analyze risk factors and to suggest an optimal system of antibiotic prophylaxis in order to prevent the development of this unwelcome complication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since our objective was to include a large number of patients, a retrospective study was chosen as the method used. The patients treated for infectious complications of total joint replacement at the 1st Department of Orthopaedics, Teaching Hospital in Motol, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, in the years 1991 through 2004, were evaluated with the use of a targeted questionnaire and complete medical records. The group comprised 229 patients, 149 women and 80 men. Of these, 123 were treated for infection of total hip replacement, 102 for total knee replacement, two had infection of prosthetic shoulder joints and two had infection of elbow joint alloplasty. RESULTS: Medical history of 37 patients (16.3 %) included infection of or a risk-associated procedure on the urogenital system (endoscopic or open surgery, prostate gland biopsy, extracorporeal lithotripsy). Six patients (2.6 %) underwent surgery with possible bacteremia (intestine resection for tumor, 2x; surgery for paronychium, 2x; cholecystectomy, 1x; and appendectomy, 1x). Dental surgery or mouth disease was recorded in 11 patients (4.8 %). DISCUSSION: The authors suggest that the orthopedic surgeons performing joint replacement should assume their deal of responsibility and should provide relevant, comprehensive information to both the patient and the attending physician. These surgeons should be ready to remain involved in their patients' further therapies and, after assessing all risks, should be able to recommend an optimal prophylactic treatment. The introduction of a new preventive approach requires a simple and uncomplicated scheme. Any complicated and expensive system of preventive antibiotic administration will only meet with lack of understanding and with trivialization. The requirement that antibiotic treatment should be selected according to the site and type of risk-associated disease is logical, but, in our opinion, rather formal and unrealistic. The authors prefer a simple system permitting a rapid and overall introduction of preventive measures. CONCLUSIONS: The groups of patients indicated for prevention of late hematogenous infection of prosthetic joints are clearly defined and, by no means, do they involve all patients with total joint replacement. Key words: prosthetic joint, infection, prevention, antibiotics, complication.